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Veteran World Traveler, Cruise Specialist Joins “Travel For Boomers”

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Pamela Scala brings her expertise to the new blog.

Pamela Scala

December 7, 2011– Pamela Scala, a seasoned world traveler and cruise specialist, has joined Travel For Boomers, a new blog about a host of travel topics specifically for members of the “Baby Boomer” generation who either love to travel or want to travel, and want to do it as inexpensively and comfortably as possible.

Cruising, travel safety, and traveling with special dietary needs will be Scala’s focus on Travel For Boomers.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Pamela Scala studied Radio, television and film production with a sub-specialty in journalism. Her career has included working for a Chicago marketing firm, work with non-profits in board development, public relations, and event planning. Most recently she’s been involved in website development.

Known to her family as “Thrifty Pam,” Scala lives up to the moniker in her world travels by using frequent flier miles and rewards points to fly and stay in hotels for free. She’s also an expert at finding the best deals for luxury travel.

“I lived for 25 years in the Chicago area, where I did almost anything to get away from the weather,” she said. “Snow is a four-letter word, after all. Having had enough of that, my husband and I moved to a barrier island in Florida where we happily wear flip-flops year round.”

Her travel mantra is “Anywhere, anytime,” she said. “Back alleys and hidden storefronts don’t scare me. Biking where no motorized vehicles can go and people take their water buffalos for an afternoon walk is right on target. And luxury travel that includes flying in the front of the plane is the only way to go as long as it’s for free.”

A dedicated “travel hacker,” Scala uses a variety of methods to amass frequent flier miles and hotel rewards points. She brings that expertise, as well as her vast experience on cruise ships, to Travel For Boomers.

For more information on Travel For Boomers, visit www.travelforboomers.com.

Paul Hobgood Joins Triangle Modernist Houses’ Advisory Council

Categories: architecture, business, historic preservation, mid-century architecture, modern architecture, news, non-profit, people
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Paul Hobgood

To assist the non-profit with its ongoing mission.

November 30, 2011 (Raleigh, NC) – Paul Hobgood, a design associate in the award-winning architectural firm Kenneth E Hobgood Architects in Raleigh, has been selected to serve on Triangle Modernist Houses’ 2012 Advisory Council.

TMH is a 501C3 nonprofit established in 2007 to preserve and promote Modernist architecture in the Triangle. The award-winning website is now the largest educational and historical archive for Modernist residential design in America.

Selected from a cross-section of the design community, Advisory Council members support and improve TMH’s programming, including popular house tours, architecture movies, trips, presentations, and many other events.

Paul Hobgood graduated from North Carolina State University’s College of Design in 2008 with a Masters in Architecture. He was a finalist for the Kamphoefner Honor Fellowship, an annual award that recognizes the College’s outstanding Master of Architecture student. He has worked at Kenneth E. Hobgood Architects since 2004, and has served as a design architect on a number of the firm’s modern, award-winning projects since then.

“I’m excited about serving on the Advisory Council for two reasons,” Hobgood said. “One, it’s an opportunity to further enhance a resource – TMH — that spotlights the Triangle’s rich history as it pertains to modernist homes and architects, since I’ve spent most of my life in and around modernist architecture. Two, I have a genuine sense of pride when it comes to the Triangle. I’m also intrigued by the broad spectrum of interests and specialties that comprise this year’s Advisory Council. It should make for a spirited debate/process.”

The 16-member Advisory Council meets twice a year at the modern Durham home of TMH founder and board chair George Smart.

“The Advisory Council is part focus group, part brain trust,” said Smart. “The members’ experience and insights into design and preservation have helped us create so many popular events over the years that our website is now up to 40,000-plus views a month. I’m looking forward to the innovations that will no doubt come from the 2010 Advisory Council.”

For more information on TMH, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

For more information on Paul Hobgood and Kenneth E. Hobgood Architects, visit www.kennethhobgood.com.

About Kenneth E. Hobgood, Architects:

Kenneth Hobgood, FAIA, founded Kenneth E Hobgood, Architects in Raleigh, NC, in 1992. Since then, the firm has received 39 design awards from the American Institute of Architects North Carolina chapter and its work has been published and exhibited in the United States, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, England and Germany. In 1997, Kenneth Hobgood as awarded the Kamphoefner Prize from North Carolina State University’s College of Design for “consistent integrity and devotion to the development of modern architecture” in North Carolina. He has served as a visiting critic at Auburn University, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, and the University of Kentucky, and as an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University since 1988. For more information visit www.kennethhobgood.com.

ABC’s Nightline Spotlights Rick Ingersoll, The Frugal Travel Guy

Categories: blogs, budget travel, entertainment, news, people, travel, video
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Millions who tuned in discovered “Flying First Class For Free.”

November 29, 2011 — Rick Ingersoll, author of The Frugal Travel Guy blog, received national broadcast coverage last week when he was featured on ABC’s Nightline on November 22 in a segment entitled “Flying First Class For Free.”

Ingersoll is what ABC’s John Donvan called “a frequent flier mile millionaire.” He and others like him go to extreme measures to amass airline miles and hotel rewards points so that they can travel “literally around the world in first class for next to nothing,” anchor Terry Moran said in his introduction to the segment.

Donvan taped the segment with Ingersoll during the Chicago Seminar in late October. Organized by Rick Ingersoll and other veteran “travel hackers,” the seminar teaches participants how to maximize frequent flier miles and rewards points to enjoy free or nearly free travel around the globe. Donvan pointed out that Ingersoll does the same on a daily basis on his blog The Frugal Travel Guy.

Donvan highlighted three of the methods “extreme mileage hoarders” like Ingersoll use: (1) credit card sign-up bonuses, which often offer from 20,000 to 70,000 miles for an approved card after a minimum spend on that card is reached; (2) mileage and “mattress” runs to rack up frequent flier miles or hotel bonuses; and (3) rental car deals that often offer mile deals on rentals.

“Rick wants to teach the rest of us the tricks to becoming miles millionaires, too,” Donvan said.

ABC taped Ingersoll in United Airlines’ First Class Lounge at O’Hare Airport and caught him conducting a workshop at the Seminar. Among other world travels, Ingersoll told Donvan about a 10-day trip to China he and his wife took this year in business class that would have cost around $20,000 but, instead, cost them only $60 each in taxes plus 120,000 miles each.

In the luxury of a first class cabin aboard a parked United jet, Donvan asked him, “So you think this is something ordinary folks can do?”

“Not only can, but should do,” Ingersoll said.

ABC’s “Nightline” is late-night television’s award-winning news program featuring anchors Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Bill Weir. A video of November 22 segment with Rick Ingersoll and a transcript of the show are available at http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/frequent-flyer-secrets-tips-racking-travel-points/story?id=15001634#.TtKMmHG8pEQ.

For more information on The Frugal Travel Guy, visit www.frugaltravelguy.com.

About The Frugal Travel Guy:

Rick Ingersoll is the author of The Frugal Travel Guy blog, which is read around the world and averages 6000 views per day, and The Frugal Travel Guy Handbook. He is constantly on the lookout for the best credit card and debit card sign-up bonuses and other promotions. He posts frugal travel tips deals every day on his blog with the goal of reducing his readers’ travel costs for the rest of their lives. He is also available for seminars and speaking engagements. For more information visit www.frugaltravelguy.com.

Triangle Modernist Houses Names 2012 Advisory Council

Categories: architecture, historic preservation, jazz, mid-century architecture, modern architecture, news, non-profit, people
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November 17, 2011 (DURHAM, NC) – George Smart, founder and director of Triangle Modernist Houses.com (TMH), has named the organization’s 2012 Advisory Council.

Appointment to the Advisory Council is a one-year term starting January 1, 2012. Selected from a cross-section of the design community, Advisory Council members support and improve TMH’s programming including popular house tours, architecture movies, trips, presentations, and many other events.

Members of the 2012 TMH Advisory Council are:

Queron Smith, Senior Vice President, M&F Bank
Architect Chad Parker, AIA, of Gensler
Caterri Woodrum, Chief Financial Officer, NC Museum of Art
Architect Brian Shawcroft, AIA
Greg Raschke, Associate Director for Collections and Scholarly Communication Administration for the N.C. State University Libraries
Architect Robby Johnson, AIA, of Clearscapes
Stan Williams, Senior Director of Public Affairs for the North Carolina Symphony
Architect Matt Griffith, AIA, principal of in situ studio
Dr. David Brook, Director, North Carolina Archives & History
Architect Jessica Johnson Moore, AIA, of More Space Studio
Design associate Paul Hobgood of Kenneth Hobgood Architects
Architect Jody Brown, AIA, author of the blog “Coffee With an Architect”
Project designer Tika Hicks of Frank Harmon Architect PA
Ann Marie Baum, Cherry Modern
Architect K.C. Ramsay
Kim Weiss, principal of Blueplate PR and public relations coordinator for Triangle Modernist Houses

“One of the greatest challenges we face in architectural history is the identification, protection, and public appreciation of North Carolina’s modernist architecture—especially of houses,” said Dr. Brook, “I am particularly interested in the intellectual and architectural legacy of Dean Henry Kamphoefner and the faculty and students of the former School of Design at NCSU. I welcome membership on the TMH Advisory Council as a way to preserve this heritage and to encourage future excellence and innovation in architectural design.”

“The Advisory Council is part focus group, part brain trust. Their experience and insights into design and preservation tapped new wildly popular events moved our website up to 30,000+ hits a month. It’s an honor to get this dream team together, and I look forward to a great 2012,” said George Smart.

For more information on Triangle Modernist Houses, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

About Triangle Modernist Houses:

Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) is an award-winning 501C3 nonprofit established in 2007 dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting Modernist residential design. The award-winning website is now the largest educational and historical archive for Modernist residential design in America. TMH also hosts popular house tours several times a year. For more information: www.trianglemodernisthouses.com. TMH also maintains an active community on Facebook. For more information: www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

TMH Announces 2011 Macon Smith Research Grant Recipients

Categories: architecture, education, historic preservation, mid-century architecture, modern architecture, news, non-profit, people
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To support research into residential modernist architecture and architects

David Hill

October 27, 2011 — David Hill, Assistant Professor of Architecture at North Carolina State University’s College of Design, has won a second Mason Smith Research Grant from Triangle Modernist Houses, the non-profit, award-winning organization dedicated to documenting, preserving and promoting modernist residential design.

Hill and his students will use the grant to create digital models of houses designed by ground breaking modernist architect George Matsumoto, FAIA. The models will be posted on the TMH website and elsewhere.

This is Hill’s second Macon Smith Research Grant from TMH. In 2009 he received the grant to interview Matsumoto at the architect’s home in Oakland, California.

TMH also awarded a 2011 MSR Grant to Tyler Merkel of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who will create

Tyler Merkel

infrastructure for his website, Mid-century Michigan, and to research Alden Ball Dow, FAIA (1904-1983) for TMH’s archives. Mid-century Michigan is an independent project Merkel initiated to document modern houses in East Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas.

George Smart, founder and board chairman of TMH, announced the award recipients this week.

Smart established the Macon Smith Research Grant Program in 2009 to support research into residential modernist architecture and architects. Grants of up to $1000 are available to private citizens, academics and students, or institutions.

The grants are named for modernist architect Macon Smith (1919-2008). From 1996 to 1999, Smith was instrumental in the publication of an award-winning historical chronology of AIA North Carolina: “History of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, 1913-1988: An Architectural Heritage.” He served on countless AIA boards and committees and won both the 2001 Deitrick Medal and the 2006 F. Carter Williams Gold Medal, the highest honors presented by AIANC.

In early 2008, Smith spent many hours scouring his own records and driving around Raleigh, NC, with George Smart to help TMH get started.

“Through my dad [the late architect George Smart Sr.], I knew Macon my entire life, but it wasn’t until we started TMH that I got to know him well,” said Smart. “We had some great afternoons riding around finding his work around Raleigh. His knowledge of NC architecture became my inspiration for expanding our archives beyond the Triangle area. David and Tyler now carry the torch for the passion we all share.”

Anyone interested in applying for a 2012 Macon Smith Research Grant an send an email and PowerPoint proposal to Smart at George@trianglemodernisthouses.com. The proposal should include up to 300 total words describing the project the grant would fund, and 10 photos in up to five slides, plus one slide of contact information.

For more information on Macon Smith, go to www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/smith. For more information on Triangle Modernist Houses, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

About Triangle Modernist Houses:

Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) is a 501C3 nonprofit organization established in 2007 and dedicated to documenting, preserving and promoting modernist residential architecture. The award-winning website is now the largest educational and historical archive for modernist residential design in America. TMH also hosts popular modernist house tours several times a year, giving the public access to the Triangle’s modernist residential architecture, past and present. These tours and a host of other TMH-sponsored events raise awareness and help preserve these “livable works of art” for future generations. Visit the website at www.trianglemodernisthouses.com. TMH also has an active community on Facebook.

VMZinc Territory Manager Appointed To Expert Forum Panel

Categories: building products, business, construction, green architecture, modern architecture, news, people, sustainability
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To answer questions about metal roofing and installation.

Melissa Dolak-Keller

October 17, 2011 (Raleigh, NC) – Melissa Dolak-Keller, a territory manager for Umicore Building Products USA, the manufacturer of VMZINC®, has been appointed to the Metal Roofing Alliance’s Ask-The-Expert Forum panel.

Ask-The-Expert is a forum for exchanging information concerning residential metal roofing, including general material and metal roofing installation questions. Architects, contractors, and installers post metal roofing questions and members of the panel of contributors provide the answers.

Dolak-Keller is one of Umicore Building Product’s territory managers for the Northeastern states and Texas, along with Alex Pittman and Bryan Ninneman. She has been with the company for five years in a variety of roles, and is now responsible for meeting with architects and installers, giving presentations on metal roofing and reviewing details.

“Melissa is a valuable member of our team and an excellent source for zinc envelope information,” said Daniel Nicely, Director of Market Development for Umicore Building Products USA. “She has a wide variety of experience working with architects and installers on various types of projects all over the United States, and understands the residential market very well. We are proud of her association with the MRA and the Ask-The-Expert Forum.”

The Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) was formed in 1998 by a small group of metal roofing manufacturers to educate consumers about the benefits of metal roofing. The Ask-The-Expert Forum is located on MRA’s website at www.metalroofing.com/v2/forums.

For more information on Umicore Building Products and VMZINC, visit www.vmzinc-us.com.

About Umicore Building Products USA, Inc.

Umicore is a world-leading producer of architectural zinc. For over 160 years Umicore has been providing innovative solutions for building owners, architects and contractors. Umicore has offices and representatives all over the world. In the United States, Umicore Building Products USA, Inc., is based in Raleigh, NC. For additional information, visit www.vmzinc-us.com.

Local Bookstores and Shops Support Cary Author’s New Book, Mission

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“Staying Crazy To Keep From Going Insane” now available in retail locations.

September 30, 2011 (Cary, NC) – “Staying Crazy To Keep From Going Insane,” the new humor book by Cary, NC, author and blogger Cris Cohen, was officially released this month, and four Triangle area retail establishments have already signed on to stock it.

The book is now available at All Booked Up bookstore (www.allbookedupsalemst.com) and DownTown Knits (http://downtownknitsapex.blogspot.com) in Apex, and Chambers Arts gallery and studio in Cary (http://chambersart.com), and Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill (www.flyleafbooks.com).

“It is really nice of these stores to support a local writer,” said Cohen, “especially one who doesn’t write about the current hot topic of the undead, such as a zombies, vampires, and members of Congress.”

“Staying Crazy To Keep From Going Insane” is a collection of humor columns Cohen, 40, wrote for several newspapers in California and new ones he’s written since he moved to Cary in 2008. He published the book through his own small press, Tyrannosaurus Max Press.

Janice Monaco, the owner of All Booked Up in Apex, explained why she’s enthusiastic about carrying Cohen’s new book:

“I took a chance a few years ago with opening my store. So with that came a local awareness for my community and what I could do to help other ‘little guys’ like me. Now that I’ve beaten the odds, I want to support local authors and artists in my store. The big chain stores don’t have someone like me, who believes in the author and his or her work. And my space for local authors’ work is showcased prominently. I pushed through the tough times and made it. Now it’s time for me to help others with the same goals. And Cris? He’s taken a chance and has something to say. He’s funny, smart, and his great voice shines through his work.”

About the subject matter of the columns, Cohen says: “Other people have great stories about big things that have happened to them. But for me, it’s like the label on a sweetener packet that just really catches my attention.”

As funny as the content is, the book has a serious purpose. Cohen will donate proceeds from sales to the Miracle League of the Triangle, a local baseball league for kids with special needs, including his own young son, Max.

In the middle of the book, a section of what appears to be advertisements suddenly appears. Cohen, who self-published the book, explains:

“These are not really ads, but sponsorships, acknowledgments of thanks to the business and individuals who gave one to help this book come to fruition. After all, this book was not underwritten by a large publishing house, or a small publishing house, or even a house where people occasionally use the world ‘publishing’ in conversation. Were it not for the help of the nice people on those pages I’m not sure it would have made it to print.”

The Kindle version of “Staying Crazy To Keep From Going Insane” is available on Amazon.com.

For more information on Cohen’s new book and to read an excerpt, visit www.stayingcrazy.com.

About Cris Cohen:

Cris Cohen is the author of the humor blog “Nothing In Particular,” the book “Staying Crazy To Keep From Going Insane,” and the humor columnist for the CaryCitizen.com. Born in Buffalo, NY, he grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles, eventually graduating from the University of Southern California. After a stint in rock radio in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Cris started writing his humor column for a collection of California newspapers. He eventually gravitated toward the tech world and Silicon Valley, working for companies such as Netscape and Cisco Systems. Cris, his wife Michele, and their young son Max, moved to Cary, North Carolina, in 2008. Cris’ blog is available at http://criscohen.typepad.com. For more information on his book, visit www.stayingcrazy.com.

Professional Chef Volunteers Time To Teach Cooking Class At Magnolia Place

Categories: charity, education, news, non-profit, people, people with disabiliites
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Chef Pat Walston helps 17 young men and women prepare an Italian

Chef Pat Walston (center) with Magnolia Place staff (L-R) Cynthia Daye, Tasha Howard, and Vonda Ashford.

menu.

September 23, 2011 (Goldsboro, NC) — Pat Walston, Corporate Chef for House-Autry Mills volunteered her time recently to conduct a cooking class at RHA Howell’s Magnolia Place in Goldsboro, NC.

Magnolia Place is a 24-hour supported living program for people with disabilities. Its mission is to provide quality training and residential services for selected students of the Work Source East Vocational Rehabilitation Facility.

Seventeen Magnolia Place residents attended the hands-on cooking class to learn how to prepare an Italian menu.

But first, Chef Pat taught the group about food safety and handling. Then she divided

Residents prepare dessert.

them into three smaller groups: one to prepare the appetizers, one to prepare the entrees, and another to prepare dessert.

With assistance from Magnolia Place staff members, Chef Pat demonstrated techniques of cooking as the group prepared Caprese salad skewers (appetizers), two hand-made deep-dish pizzas, hand-made meatball subs (the students prepared the meatballs one by one), and a chocolate brownie trifle for dessert. In the process, they learned how to prepare an actual meal and how to work together as a team in the kitchen.

Afterward, they all sat together and enjoyed the meal.

“We are so grateful to Chef Pat for donating her time to the Magnolia program and for giving back to her community,” said RHA Howell’s marketing director Debbie Valentine, who joined in the fun as a member of “Team Brownie” to make dessert.

Residents prepare meatball subs.

“Some of the guys were a bit skeptical at first, but after feasting on the Italian-inspired meal, they all wanted to learn more about cooking!”

Chef Pat Walston, who lives in Goldsboro, is a regular participant in RHA Howell’s annual “Epicurious Vino Challenge” fundraiser held each summer at Hinnant Family Vineyards in Pine Level, NC. The challenge requires professional chefs to use a Hinnant wine as a main ingredient in a signature dish. Chef Pat received an Honorable Mention in the People’ Choice category.

Magnolia Place is located at 1401 Salem Church Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530. For more information about the Magnolia Place program, contact Charlotte Wooten, Residential Director at 919-734-9039 or visit www.rhahowell.org.

About RHA Howell

RHA Howell is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has been helping people with disabilities and special needs, and their families, make choices to live more independently for nearly 40 years. Integrity, high standards for quality and hard work are at the core of every RHA Howell disability assistance program. Proven leaders in caring for people, RHA Howell, Inc. is a pioneering force in the field of human services, particularly supporting infants and children. For more information, go to www.rhahowell.org.

The Frugal Travel Guy Welcomes Hotel Group’s New Best Price Guarantee

Categories: blogs, budget travel, business, news, people, travel
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Rick Ingersoll suggests how to make the most of the new offer.

Rick Ingersoll, The Frugal Travel Guy

September 21, 2011 (Hilton Head Island, SC) – Rick Ingersoll, the author of the popular blog “The Frugal Travel Guy,” applauds the new Best Price Guarantee recently announced by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).

“It’s so refreshing to see a major chain of hotels like IHG step up to the plate with a meaningful best-price guarantee,” he said.

IHG’s portfolio of hotels includes InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

IHG has promised to make sure the best hotel room prices for any IHG property can be found directly on its websites. “If you find a lower price on a competing Web site for the same hotel, type of accommodations and rate restrictions on the same date(s),” the IHG site says, “we’ll not only match that lower price, we’ll give you your first night free. It’s that simple.”

According to Ingersoll, this is very similar to the same guarantee offered years ago by Trip Rewards: If you found a cheaper price for the same exact hotel room with the same rate restrictions on another website, filed your claim within 24 hours, and the claim was approved, your hotel room was free.

“The key to success is to find the cheaper rate before you actually book your room on an approved IHG group website,” he cautioned. “Remember, everything must be exactly the same as far as the room type and room rate restrictions. And if you are going to be in a given town more than one night, look for more than one hotel best price guarantee and hotel hop for more free nights.”

To start the process of getting this best-price guarantee, Ingersoll suggests beginning by looking for a hotel room through Kayak.com or HotelsCombined.com, two hotel aggregator sites that show the room rates from many third-party sites.

“You’re looking for cheaper rates than the rates quoted by the IHG group website,” he stressed.

He also pointed out that refundable rates must be matched against refundable rates, and non-refundable rates must be matched against non-refundable rates.

“The game is actually fun and the results should be automatic since you can call in your claim once you have found a winner,” he said. “You can also fill out an online claim form, but I want to know right now if they are going to honor my claim. I tend to make refundable reservations for hotel rooms just in case my guarantee is not approved.”

Rick Ingersoll is always on the look out for ways to reduce travel expenses dramatically through credit card sign-up bonuses (that offer frequent flier miles), hotel rewards programs, and a variety of other ways. He reports his findings on “The Frugal Travel Guy” blog so that all his 6000-plus daily readers will be able to use them as well. For more information on Ingersoll and to follow his blog, go to www.frugaltravelguy.com.

For more information on IHG’s new rates offer, go to www.ichotelsgroup.com and click on “Best Price Guarantee.”

About Rick Ingersoll, “The Frugal Travel Guy”

Rick Ingersoll is the world’s expert on flying free and author of The Frugal Travel Guy Handbook. A retired mortgage banker, he splits his time between Traverse City, Michigan and Hilton Head, SC. Rick’s expertise includes frequent flyer programs, getting the “bump,” customer service requests, and using good credit ratings to take advantage of bank promotions. He has collected over five million frequent flyer miles and has a current “bankroll” of over 1.5 million miles and points. He shares his expertise in his book, The Frugal Travel Guy Handbook, on his daily-updated blog at www.frugaltravelguy.com, and through speaking engagements and seminars he presents around the U.S. “The Frugal Travel Guy” blog has been a Best Travel Blog Award winner, presented by Tripbase.com, for the past three years.

Quail Ridge Books, Moravian Books & Gifts Featuring “The Mahogany Door”

Categories: books, children's books, kids' issues, music, NC musicians, people
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New fantasy-adventure book for young readers accepted at two more bookstores.

September 16, 2011 (Raleigh, NC) – Quail Ridge Books & Music, the award-winning independent bookstore in Raleigh, NC, and Moravian Books & Gifts, an independent bookstore in Winston-Salem, NC’s historic Old Salem district, are now carrying “The Mahogany Door,” a new fantasy-adventure book for young readers by Durham author J. Mark Boliek.

Moravian Books & Gifts is stocking the book, the all-original soundtrack CD that accompanies it, and the limited edition version featuring the book, CD and bookmark within a handcrafted, hand-etched wooden box. At a recent in-store event, the store sold both versions while Boliek was on hand to sign them.

Quail Ridge Books is just offering the limited edition version at this point.

“The Mahogany Door” is also being sold at The Regulator Bookshop, an independent bookstore in Durham.

“I’ve become a huge proponent of supporting local and independent businesses,” Boliek said. “They’re more representative of the independent author. And just like me, they have to compete with big name entities like Barnes & Nobel. Just as I try to find my space among a mountain of popular authors, indie bookstores have to find their space in the larger market. So they empathize more with an author who’s just trying to get his or her foot in the door. And local bookstores are much more personable, especially to local authors. They enjoy showcasing local talent.”

Boliek will return to Old Salem in November and December for two more in-store author/holiday events at Moravian Books & Gifts.

“The Mahogany Door,” published by Split Rail Multimedia, is the first book in a trilogy entitled The Bruinduer Narrative. According to Boliek, it represents his feelings about friendship, loss, perseverance, and about accepting help from someone larger than one’s self along the way. It is recommended reading for young and young adult readers by Midwest Book Review.

The book’s story surrounds three 20-something friends who were separated years ago by a tragedy but must reunite to fulfill a destiny. They must return through The Mahogany Door to the fantasy world of Bruinduer to retrieve a friend they left there before that world collapses. One of the three friends has suffered amnesia from a serious accident and doesn’t remember Bruinduer. Another wants nothing so much as to forget about Bruinduer. And the third’s reasons for returning are suspect. The adventures begin as soon as they reach the great door in the basement of an old mansion on the coast called Warhead Dale.

The ebook version is available on Amazon and through iBooks and the CD is available on iTunes as well as other online music sources. For more information on “The Mahogany Door” and CD, visit the author’s website at www.jmarkboliek.com.

Facts about The Mahogany Door:

Author: J. Mark Boliek. Publisher: Split Rail Books. Publication Date: May 2011. Genres: Fantasy-Fiction, Adventure-Fiction. Illustrator: Lauren Gallegos. Age Group: 10 and up. ISBN: 978-0-9832900-0-1. Paperback: 353pp. Retail Price: store’s discretion. Currently available at: The Regulator Bookshop, Moravian Books & Gifts, Quail Ridge Books & Music, Chambers Arts, and at www.jmarkboliek.com.

About J. Mark Boliek:

J. Mark Boliek, the author of “The Mahogany Door” and the entire Bruinduer Narrative series, grew up in Eden and Durham, North Carolina. An avid writer and athlete, he received a football scholarship after high school but chose to join the Navy instead. He graduated from Concord University in Athens, WV, in 1997 and lived in Wilmington, NC, for a while, where he began to develop The Bruinduer Narrative, a fantasy-adventure series for young readers, as well as the soundtrack CD that accompanies “The Mahogany Door.” Mark and his wife Jill now live in Durham, NC, where they own and operate Split Rail Books and Split Rail Multimedia LLC. For more information on the author and “The Mahogany Door,” visit www.jmarkboliek.com and his Facebook page.

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